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New Study Shows That Moms Are Supportive Of School Choice

Our K-12 education system is a monopoly, and like any other monopoly, the customer (child) suffers from lack of choice and competition. Our children are being held captive in a failing system where markets are not allowed to work. As it turns out, parents, especially moms, know that the key to improving our education system is to allow for market forces to drive innovation and create an enviroment that responds to the needs of children, instead of just propping up the status quo.

In a study just released by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, mothers of school-aged children were asked about education nationwide, education in their communities, and the issue of school choice. The study, Schooling in America, provided some great insight into feelings on traditional education in America, and what they would like to see change.

One key finding is that mothers have more confidence in private schools than in traditional public schools, which is probably why 66% support vouchers and 69% support tax credits for their children to get the best education available. Around the country, about 255,000 students are using vouchers and tax-credits this year. Why are so many mothers seeking other options? Because, as the survey showed, 79% of mothers surveyed gave the federal government’s involvement in education a “fair” or “poor,” while 61% believe that education has “gotten off on the wrong track.”

It’s not simply a matter of “the grass is always greener” for these moms, either. Those who have their children in private schools find that their children are receiving much better educations. 56% of mothers gave their private schools an A or B grade, compared to only 43% for public schools. This is down from 62% only a year ago. As education reform and school choice becomes more mainstream, parents are beginning to realize that they have options, and as they research an seek those out also find that some are better for their children.

Perhaps that’s why most respondents agreed that vouchers should be available to all children regardless of income. “When a school doesn’t work for a child, the public believes that child should have choices, including private schools—no matter what his parents’ income,” said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation. Isn’t that what America is about- equal opportunity for all? America’s mothers certainly seem to think so- and we agree!

I'm sorry but the public school system is absolutely perfectly fine. I come from a family of teachers myself. I, my Brother, my parents, and everyone else in my family are all products of a public school education. Most of us make well into a 6 figure income. The problem isn't the system of public schools. The problem is that funding for public schools has been slowly drained away, re-purposed, and otherwise taken away until the system is starved of money. You can talk about choice all day long. But if that system were put into place and was forced to endure the same financial rigors as that of public schools... It too would fail and probably even more dramatically. So if you want to fix schools, trying to re-engineer something that in practice is a perfectly fine system isn't the way to do it.

Keep in mind that the same public educational system was in place for some time, but deterioration in learning competencies began only during the '80s. That means the source of educational problems lies elsewhere, very likely in over-exposure to commercial mass entertainment.

YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER
BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM DRINK
YOU CAN KEEP A KID IN SCHOOL
BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM THINK
COMPULSORY EDUCATION
IS AN OXYMORON LADY
HOW MUCH YOU PAYING THE GOVERNMENT
TO BRAINWASH YOUR BABY

I work in a school district that has school choice. Wanna know what the problem is? The kids can't get into the few schools that they want to because the schools gets filled up too fast. So even if you had school choice everywhere it won't fix the fact that you probably won't get in that school since everyone else will be trying to get into them as well. If you had all great schools and you had school choice no one would want to change schools because they are all great OR (in reality) you have a few schools that everyone want to get into that can't because they are full.

So the the advocates of school choice - how are you going to fix the problem of not getting in the school you want because it's full (because everyone else wants in also)?

School choice is sweeping the nation, and Delaware is up next! Today, Delaware Governor Jack Markell will be signing education reform into law to open up better educational opportunities for children in that state.

Across America, Parent Trigger laws are being invoked to make changes in failing schools. In some cases, schools are transformed from traditional public schools and, in others, they are used to replace administration officials impeding the success of students.

On May 21, Washington Rep. Liz Pike introduced House Bill 2063, which would open up educational opportunities for children in her state. This bill would establish educational tax credits allowing Washington’s children to have access to more educational choices. Washington currently has very few options for school choice, and if passed, this would be a huge boost for education reform there.

FreedomWorks is currently working with parents, teachers and activists across the country to educate citizens on the dangers of Common Core, as well as give them the tools to stop Common Core in their state.

School choice received a blow in Louisiana today when the Supreme Court deemed funding for vouchers unconstitutional. Last April, Governor Bobby Jindal expanded school choice, including scholarships offered for up to 5,600 students for the current school year. More than 10,000 students applied for 5,600 spots in private and religious schools this year, and were selected by a lottery. The program was set to be expanded next year with nearly 8,000 students approved for vouchers with more scholarships expected to be approved in June.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith attended traditional public schools, but chose a different path when it came time to choose how to school their own children. The Smiths have a son and a daughter, both of whom were educated both through homeschooling and in private schools. Their daughter, however, decided she wanted something different for high school.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed a new educational reform bill into law which some are calling “an education revolution.” This bill is aimed at revamping high school education in the state of Florida that will lead to more students being able to get a job upon graduation.

When it comes to education reform, there is a lot of misinformation out there. While it has been shown time and time again that school choice is a win-win situation for everyone involved, there are those who continue to argue against it. Perhaps a little empirical evidence will change some minds.